| U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center Event Reports For
12/30/2015 - 12/31/2015 ** EVENT NUMBERS ** |
 | Agreement State | Event Number: 51618 | Rep Org: CALIFORNIA RADIATION CONTROL PRGM
Licensee: STANDARD SOIL GEOTECH, INC.
Region: 4
City: PORTER RANCH State: CA
County:
License #: 8067-19
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DONALD OESTERLE
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH | Notification Date: 12/22/2015
Notification Time: 19:27 [ET]
Event Date: 12/21/2015
Event Time: [PST]
Last Update Date: 12/22/2015 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JACK WHITTEN (R4DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
| Event Text CALIFORNIA AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - DAMAGED MOISTURE DENSITY GAUGE
The following information was obtained from the State of California via email:
"On December 21, 2015, [the] RSO of Standard Soil Geotech, Inc. contacted the Radiologic Health Branch (RHB), Brea Office, to report a gauge (CPN MC-3 S/N M39129253, 10 mCi Cs-137, 50 mCi Am:Be-241) had been run over at the Southern California Edison facility in Porter Ranch in a section that was undergoing construction. The RSO stated that [the] casing of the gauge was damaged by a bulldozer and the Cs-137 source was in the extended position. The RSO confirmed that construction personnel were told to leave the area where the incident occurred. The only path to the incident site was secured by a construction vehicle. The RSO then left his office to assess the scene. After arriving at the scene [at approximately] 7:45 p.m. [PST], the RSO [was] provided photographs that indicated the Am:Be-241 source had detached from the casing and the Cs-137 source appeared to be exposed and not able to be returned to the shielded position. The RSO was asked if he had contacted the fire department and they confirmed that he had not. The RSO was informed that an RHB inspector would go to the scene and assist in removing the radioactive sources from the site.
"After the RHB inspector arrived at the site [at approximately] 10:15 p.m., the damage to the gauge was assessed and it was determined that the Am:Be-241 source was not damaged but was detached from the gauge body. The Cs-137 source was also intact, but was still in the extended positon with the opposite end of the source rod broken off at top of the shield, preventing the source from being retracted into the shielded position. After the two parts containing the sources were moved away from the rest of the gauge parts, a survey was performed, using a Victoreen 451B-DE-SI. The dose rate of the remaining parts was found to be background (0.01 mR/hr) and the parts were placed in a plastic bag and removed from the site. The two sources were then placed in the transportation case and a small lead pig was taped to the Cs-137 source to reduce the radiation levels. The box was then closed and locked. A survey of the transport case found the highest dose on contact was 17 mR/hr. The gauge was then secured in [the RSO's] vehicle. Due to the damage to the gauge and the dose rates approaching the maximum allowable for a Type A package, DOT Special Permit 110646, CA-CA-15-99 was issued to allow the RSO to transport the gauge to secure storage at the Standard Soil Geotechnical facility until disposal can be arranged."
California Report No.: 5010-122115 |
| Agreement State | Event Number: 51622 | Rep Org: MARYLAND DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Licensee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND - COLLEGE PARK
Region: 1
City: COLLEGE PARK State: MD
County:
License #: MD 33-004-03
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: RAY MANLEY
HQ OPS Officer: HOWIE CROUCH | Notification Date: 12/23/2015
Notification Time: 15:08 [ET]
Event Date: 12/23/2015
Event Time: [EST]
Last Update Date: 12/23/2015 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
AGREEMENT STATE
| Person (Organization):
JAMES NOGGLE (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
| Event Text AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - PANORAMIC RESEARCH IRRADIATOR EMERGENCY RETURN CABLE BROKEN
The following information was received from the State of Maryland via email:
"This afternoon [12/23/15] the emergency return cable for the source rack became crimped and the normal movement of the cable was stopped resulting in most of the emergency cable bunching up in the bottom of the source pool. The source rack was not raised during this occurrence and remains fully shielded at the bottom of the pool. College Park does not intend to use the irradiator until they fix/replace the emergency return cable.
"The plan is to wait until after the holidays and put the sources in the storage rack currently located at the bottom of the pool. Once the main rack is empty they will use their established procedures to raise the rack and repair/replace the emergency return cable. It was confirmed that there was no potential for damage to the sources from the emergency return cable hang-up. It was stated that the failure of the emergency return cable could not have resulted in a hung up source rack. It was stated that the repair of the system would not have any potential for additional occupational exposure to employees or would put the sources in any kind of jeopardy.
"The licensee will prepare, by next week, a report that will be sent by email to [the State] defining the incident, the methodology of repair ,and ultimately what caused the failure/crimping of the emergency return cable. Note: Due to the previous incident 1.5 years ago, when source rack hung up, the emergency return cable was replaced at that time." |
| Power Reactor | Event Number: 51628 | Facility: BROWNS FERRY
Region: 2 State: AL
Unit: [1] [2] [3]
RX Type: [1] GE-4,[2] GE-4,[3] GE-4
NRC Notified By: BRIAN MAZE
HQ OPS Officer: VINCE KLCO | Notification Date: 12/30/2015
Notification Time: 13:16 [ET]
Event Date: 11/06/2015
Event Time: 08:15 [CST]
Last Update Date: 12/30/2015 | Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.73(a)(1) - INVALID SPECIF SYSTEM ACTUATION
| Person (Organization):
MICHAEL F. KING (R2DO)
|
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX CRIT | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode | | 1 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | | 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | | 3 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation | Event Text INVALID ACTUATION OF AN EMERGENCY DIESEL GENERATOR
"This 60-day telephone notification is being made per the reporting requirements specified by 10CFR50.73(a)(2)(iv)(A) and 10CFR50.73(a)(1) to describe an invalid actuation of the Emergency AC electrical power systems, due to invalid start of an emergency diesel generator (EDG).
"On November 6, 2015, at 0815 [CST], EDG A received a fast start signal inadvertently. Maintenance Fix-It-Now (FIN) personnel, working in the vicinity of the relay panel, made incidental contact with one of the relays in the Diesel Generator Logic Relay Panel which initiated the engine start. The engine started and obtained rated speed and voltage in single unit mode. This was not a valid initiation of EDG A.
"Operations personnel responded to the EDG actuation by ensuring that the engine was shut down and placed in standby condition in accordance to plant operating instructions.
"The plant conditions at the time of the EDG A initiation would not have actuated the EDG; therefore, the actuation of EDG A was invalid.
"There were no safety consequences or impact to the health and safety of the public as a result of this event.
"This event was entered into the Corrective Action Program (CAP) as Condition Report (CR) 1101730.
"The NRC Resident Inspector was notified of this event." | |